Page 74 of Taken Away

Mike looked pleased. “Smart woman.”

Bennett handed him the menu. “Same for me.”

“Beer?”

“Yeah.”

Mike glanced at Aubrey. She hesitated. “What do people drink here when they’re pretending they fit in?”

Mike’s smile widened. “Cold beer.”

“Then cold beer.”

Bennett’s eyes flicked back to hers, a sudden, heavily hooded warmth moving through his expression before he looked away. Mike noticed, of course, and left before Bennett could threaten him again.

Aubrey settled back against the cracked leather booth and looked around. Old photos lined the walls. The infamous trout hung above the far corner, mouth open in eternal judgment.

She pointed at it. “That fish has seen things.”

“Most of them illegal.”

She smiled despite herself. A man in a feed-store cap on his way to the bar lifted a hand. “McCrae.”

“Tom.”

“How’s that lower Merlot block holding?”

“Better than your back field after that last rain.”

Tom snorted. “Ain’t that the truth.” He tipped his chin at Aubrey, then moved on. An older woman with silver hair touched Bennett lightly on the shoulder as she passed.

“You tell Zack I’ve got those jars ready for his mama.”

“I’ll tell him.”

“Good boy.” She disappeared toward the bar.

Aubrey blinked, a wicked smile finally breaking through her corporate shield. “She called you good boy.”

“Don’t start.”

“I would never.”

“You absolutely would.”

“I am showing admirable restraint.”

His mouth twitched, his gaze dropping to her lips, tracking the curve of her smile with a heavy, dangerous intensity that made her mouth go dry.

Their burgers arrived piled high on paper-lined baskets. Aubrey took one bite and immediately closed her eyes. “Oh.”

Bennett watched her, his voice dropping an octave. “That good?”

“I hate that it is.”

Mike passed by with a pitcher of beer and grinned. “Told you.”

Aubrey picked up an onion ring. “This place is ridiculous.”